pi|le|us

pi|le|us «PY lee uhs, PIHL ee-», noun, plural pi|le|i «PY lee y, PIHL ee-».

1. Botany. the broad umbrellalike fruiting structure forming the top of certain fungi, such as mushrooms; cap. It is supported by a stalk or stem (the stipe) and bears radiating plates (gills) on the under side:

2. a kind of felt skullcap worn by the ancient Romans and Greeks.

╂[< New Latin pileus a fungus cap; < Latin pīleus, pilleus skullcap]